Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Never have, never will.

"Do you know of any runs I could go on that aren't seven miles?"

Without looking at me, Genkai said, "Why? Was yesterday's loop too long?"

"Yeah, pretty much," I answered honestly. "Normally I just run three miles a day, not seven trillion."

"I can safely say that the route I gave you was not seven trillion miles. In fact I believe it was just over seven."

Deciding not to explain that I had been exaggerating, I asked, "So, do you know of a shorter loop?"

Genkai finally glanced at me and I saw a flicker of a smile on her lips. Ah, so she'd been trying to annoy me this whole time. Not going to work, old woman. Before I could say anything, she said, "Of course I know of other routes." She immediately launched into giving directions and I listened carefully, wanting to make sure I didn't get myself lost.

"Not eating this morning?" the old psychic asked as I headed for the door.

I paused in the doorway and, looking back over my shoulder, replied, "I'm going to eat when I get back."

Genkai nodded and returned her gaze to her tea. Was there something special in her mug or something? It must be awful interesting, seeing as she spends so much time looking at it.

I tugged on my sneakers and slipped outside. Without even thinking, I scanned for Hiei. After his question about my running schedule I couldn't help but think he was planning something. What that plan was I had no idea. Maybe he was going to avoid being around when I was running so that he wouldn't have to talk to me, or maybe he was going to have me assassinated like I'd originally thought.

Not spotting the fire demon, I set my watch and began jogging for the path Genkai had described. Over all my run was far more pleasant than the day before. It was ideal running weather and the route Genkai had sent me on was relatively flat. If it hadn't been for my worry about Hiei's potentially evil intentions it would have been a perfect run.

I arrived back at the shrine in less than half the time it had taken me the day before. I stopped jogging at the edge of the trees and paused to stop my watch, using the time to catch my breath.

"You ran a shorter loop today."

I froze, muffling a shriek of surprise. Then, moving slowly, I tilted my head backward and looked up at the tree branch above me. Hiei was seated calmly on the limb, one leg bent at the knee, the other dangling freely. He was watching me with bored crimson eyes.

"You scared the crap out of me, Hiei," I snapped. I was never in a particularly sociable mood after a run, especially so early in the morning, and the fire demon's sudden appearance hadn't helped his case.

"Hn," was all he replied. Faster than I could see he jumped from his perch. He landed silently in front of me, the impact of his boots causing small puffs of dirt to rise out of the grass. "Why did you run a shorter distance?"

I resisted the urge to ask why it mattered, opting to instead answer truthfully, "Usually I only run three miles. Running seven yesterday sucked."

He watched me, unmoving, and, deciding he wasn't going to say anything, I asked, "Do you need something?"

Still nothing. He was simply standing in front of me, studying me intensely. So intensely that I was starting to get freaked out. Finally he said, "I've decided that I will refrain from reading your mind."

I'd been under the impression that we'd settled that issue the day before, but apparently I'd been wrong. "Good to hear?" I hadn't meant for it to come out like a question and yet it had. So much for the boldness I'd discovered yesterday; it seemed I was back to being nervous.

Yet again he didn't respond. I couldn't understand why he had bothered to approach me, why he was here again this morning. Had he come simply to tell me he wasn't going to intrude on my thoughts? While I may not know him particularly well, that just didn't seem like something he would do. I was hesitant about asking him what his intentions were, asking might scare him off and then I'd never know.

I felt like we stood there for ages, neither of us talking, each just watching the other. When it seemed like he had no intent of saying or doing anything, I said, "Well, I'm going to go inside. I have to eat breakfast and I'm in desperate need of a shower, so…" I trailed off, letting him fill in the blanks, and stepped around him. I was only vaguely surprised when he fell in step beside me on my way to the shrine.

Pushing the door open and letting Hiei through first, I made up my mind to ask the others about his weird behavior. Maybe it wasn't as strange as it seemed. After all, I didn't really know him at all, which meant that he may not be acting out of the ordinary.

I snorted at my own naivety. Hiei was acting weird, there was no doubt about it, and quite frankly trying to convince myself otherwise was rather idiotic.

Regardless, I still planned to talk to Keiko. At the very least I could see if she had any idea as to why Hiei was being strange.

Yusuke's attacks were fluid, graceful, lithe, and all together completely unlike the way he normally moved. The hanyou had forced Kuwabara into a purely defensive fight. The two friends were using Genkai's backyard to train, though as of yet it seemed to me that only Yusuke was actually getting a decent workout.

Leaning against the porch railing, I watched as Yusuke hit Kuwabara with a barrage of punches so fast that his fists blurred before my eyes. Despite how large a part of their life training was, I had never seen either Yusuke or Kuwabara in action. In part it was the guys' fault because, while I'd never asked to watch them train, they had always gone out of their way to make sure I wasn't around when they did practice. Exactly why they did not want me to watch I was unsure. For all I knew they thought watching them would entangle me even deeper in the dangers of the Makai. Regardless, it no longer mattered seeing as they would be unable to prevent me from watching during the time I stayed at Genkai's.

I realized now that watching them fight may not be a good idea, although it wasn't for reasons the guys would understand. Watching thier training was a painful reminder of Mecca's attack on me in the restaurant and I felt distinctly nauseous. Still, I stayed where I was, ignoring my nerves. I couldn't live my life afraid of fighting, it would make my friendship with Yusuke and Kuwabara impossible.

I watched as Kuwabara jumped back, clearing the range of Yusuke's punches, and summoned what I could only assume was his spirit sword. The glowing orange weapon in hand, Kuwabara finally began to attack Yusuke, who found himself hard-pressed to keep the sword at bay.

As they fought, I glanced to the edge of their makeshift fighting arena where Hiei and Kurama stood watching. The two demons appeared to be waiting for their turn to fight and were conversing quietly, apparently discussing the match between Yusuke and Kuwabara.

I couldn't help but frown as I watched Hiei. I'd yet to have a chance to talk to Keiko and his odd behavior was eating at me. When I had emerged from the shrine to watch the training, all of the guys excluding Hiei had greeted me, which had only added to my frustration. Why would he approach me in the morning only to ignore me later?

"Damn it."

My eyes darted back to Yusuke and Kuwabara. Kuwabara's spirit sword was gone and he was cradling his wrist against his chest, aiming an irritated glare as his opponent.

Yusuke grinned. "Don't get grumpy just because I beat you. It's not my fault your defense was weak."

"You kicked me in the wrist. How the hell was that necessary?"

"How wasn't it?"

Kurama's calm voice prevented any further argument. "I believe we agreed on a group fight following your individual match. Correct?"

"Hell yeah we did." Turning a confident smirk on Kuwabara, Yusuke added, "As winner of our match I get to choose my teammate."

"Whatever, Urameshi. Just choose."

"I pick Hiei."

Kuwabara sighed. "Fine, then I'm with Kurama."

Glancing toward me, Kurama asked, "Would you mind giving us the signal to begin?"

"Sure. Um, what do I say?"

"A simple 'one, two, three, begin' should be sufficient."

I hesitated a fraction of a second before giving the commands. As soon as I had finished speaking the guys blurred into action and I realized that this fight, unlike the last one, would be fought at a speed completely impossible for me to see.

Deciding not to watch the blurs that were the guys, I turned and slipped back into the house. It was almost noon and I figured that I could help Keiko and Yukina prepare lunch.

As I entered the kitchen I stopped in the doorway, surprised to see someone I didn't recognize seated at the table. Her eyes moved to me immediately and it took only a second for me to place who she was. While I had never seen a picture, I had heard enough about Botan to know that the woman before me was Keiko's grim reaper friend.

She stood up and bounded toward me, sticking out a hand. Her pink eyes twinkling, she said, "Hi, I'm Botan. You must be Shyle. It's wonderful to finally meet you."

I blinked at her, unable to muster any other response. Shaking myself out of my surprised stupor, I extended my own hand and said, "Nice to meet you, too." I glanced past her to Keiko, who stood with a hand over her mouth, stifling a giggle at my reaction. She had warned me that Botan was a bubbly, excitable person but I hadn't been prepared for the full extent of the ferry girl's personality.

As Botan released my hand and returned to her seat, Keiko said, "Botan just got here and was about to explain the reason's for her surprise visit." I nodded, glad that Keiko had filled me in.

Clapping her hands together eagerly, Botan said, "Oh, right. Well, Koenma gave me the day off and I figured what better way to spend the afternoon than with a bunch of friends."

Yukina laughed softly and said, "It's nice of you to want to spend your time with us."

"Of course, I want to spend time here. It's so much better than staying at Koenma's."

As Botan launched into an explanation of the horrors of her workplace, I moved to Yukina's side and asked quietly if there was anything I could do to help.

The small apparition gave me instructions to set the table and returned her attention to her own work. It took me only a few minutes to have the table out in the dining room set and soon I was seated across from Botan in the kitchen, listening as she carried on a conversation almost single-handedly.

Eventually Keiko joined us at the table and steered the conversation in a new direction. Catching me off guard, she asked, "Do you still have that romance article from a few months ago."

"The one we made a bet on?" At Keiko's nod, I said, "Yeah, it's in my room. Why?"

"Before we only got the guys opinion. I was thinking that we could see what Botan and Yukina think."

I hesitated, before grudgingly saying, "Only if there are no bets involved."

Keiko laughed. "Sure, whatever makes you happy."

I stood up and headed for my room while Keiko quickly explained what we were talking about to Botan and Yukina. I found the magazine easily and returned to the kitchen, flipping to the article as I walked. Dropping into my seat, I slid the magazine across the table to Botan, who picked it up and read the article out loud so that Yukina could hear it.

When she was done reading, Botan asked, "So what are we supposed to be deciding?"

"Do you think girls should need an article like that to help them?" Keiko asked.

Botan frowned, scanning the article, clearly debating how she should answer. Yukina was also silent and I couldn't help but wonder how the apparition would decide. In all likelihood she would side with Keiko, especially considering how long it had taken her to understand her relationship with Kuwabara.

Botan spoke up first, "Um, I guess I think that, while guys do a lot of the things this article lists, an article like this shouldn't be necessary. The guy isn't doing his job if the girl needs help figuring him out."

I raised an eyebrow. Did Botan share a brain with Kuwabara? Not only did she share his opinion, she'd also voiced it in almost exactly the same way.

"Who did I agree with?" she asked eagerly.

Keiko shook her head. "Let Yukina answer first, then we'll disclose our opinions." I nodded in agreement and looked at the ice apparition.

When Yukina finally spoke she did so hesitantly, her indecision clear in her voice. "I have little knowledge of human dating, but I know that if I had had similar advice when Kazuma was attempting to court me it would have been very helpful."

"So you think that articles like this one may be necessary?" I asked.

Yukina nodded, murmuring a quiet yes.

Botan leaned forward in her chair. "What were your opinions?"

"I agree with you and Keiko agrees with Yukina."

A momentary silence fell over the kitchen and I decided that now was as good a time as ever to ask about Hiei's strange behavior.

I quickly outlined what had happened after both my runs and asked if I was wrong in thinking that Hiei was acting odd.

Keiko frowned at me and said, "No, I agree, that does seem strange. He approached you?"

"Yep. He commented on the length of my run, said he wouldn't read my mind, and proceeded to stand there staring at me."

"That doesn't sound like Hiei," Keiko observed.

Her eyes twinkling with excitement, Botan added in a singsong voice, "Maybe he likes you."

I snorted and replied, "Yeah right. The first night he met me he told me that he 'has no interest in me.'"

"He said that? That's so rude."

"And so much more like him," Keiko said. "Maybe you caught him off guard by asking him not to read your mind."

"Actually, last night Kurama said that he thinks I impressed Hiei by doing that."

"Really?"

I nodded. "Yeah, but I don't get what's so impressive about standing up for myself."

"Well, I'd say it's exactly that," Keiko said. "You stood up for yourself. Hiei isn't used to that, particularly when it's a human girl. You probably shocked him."

Rather than arguing and pointing out that Hiei had seemed more annoyed than shocked, I simply shrugged and said, "I guess."

"I'll ask Yusuke if he knows anything. In the meantime, tell us if Hiei does anything else strange."

"Sure thing," I answered. Further conversation was cut off by the arrival of the guys, who entered the room sweaty, loud, and demanding food.

Hiei was waiting for me the next morning. He stood leaning against a tree, his eyes closed. I stopped a few feet from him, a frown on my face. Halting my watch, I glanced toward the shrine and considered walking past him without giving any form of acknowledgement, but decided not to when he opened an eye and looked directly at me.

"Morning," I murmured, still slightly out of breath.

"Hn."

My eyes narrowed and I snapped, "Don't you know how to greet someone without being rude? You'd think that I was the one stalking you!"

His eyes widened fractionally. "Stalking you?" he asked with disbelief clear in his voice.

"What else would you call this?" I gestured around wildly. "You're here each morning but you don't actually try to start a conversation or do anything for that matter. You just stand there. Well, thanks but I'm good, I don't need the company!"

He stared at me wordlessly and when it seemed that he wasn't going to respond I moved past him toward the shrine.

"Pardon me for doing as Genkai asked."

I paused and turned around slowly. "What are you talking about?"

"The old woman asked me to make sure you did not get into trouble. Don't you remember?" he asked. He watched me through narrowed, angry eyes and his voice had a dangerous, threatening quality to it. I took a deep breath, realizing just how fine a line I was walking.

Just like that my anger disappeared. Tiredly, I ran a hand across my sweaty forehead. "Sorry, I forgot she asked you to do that. But look, I don't need you to look after me. I'm a big girl, I'll be okay."

He laughed once, humorously, and said, "You must be kidding. If anything in these woods decided they wanted you for breakfast, you would be dead."

Way to be blunt. "Alright, so you think you have to look after me? Go right ahead, but I don't see why you have to be out here. I'm sure you could protect me just fine from inside the shrine."

"I'll do as I please," he replied. "If that means I watch you from here then so be it. You have no choice in the matter."

I glared at him for a second longer, before turning and storming toward the shrine. Stupid, arrogant, fire demon asshole.

AN: First of all, I'm sorry for the late update. I went away for the weekend and had limited computer access. That being said I also got caught up reading two incredible stories. The first was a professionally written book, The City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. It is part of the Mortal Instrumetns series and is utterly incredible. The second story, Fallen by Confusedknight, is on this site; it is in the Tamora Pierce category and focuses on Kel. If you have even the slightest interest in Tamora you should definetly read it because I can say with complete honesty that it is quite simply the best story I've ever read on this site.

So yeah, I haven't had a whole lot of writing time. But even if I'd had time to write I can't say this chapter would have come any faster. The lack of reviews my last chapter received kind of kept me down and I couldn't really find the inspiration to write. To those of you that reviewed: thanks; to the rest of you: please review, it'll result in fast (and probably better) chapters. Reviews really do provide motivation for me to write. I don't care if it's simply a "I liked this chapter. Update soon." or a "Wow, you suck at writing." Even a flame would give me a reason to write, at least then I'd be able to prove someone wrong. Anyway, my point is: please review!

And that's enough of my ramblings for now. Toodles!